October's child is born for woe,And life's vicissitudes must know,But lay an opal on her breast,And hope will lull those woes to rest.

What are Opals?What exactly are Opals? Learn about the gem before you buy opal jewelry. The definition of an Opal is as follows:

The word Opal is derived from the Latin word "opalus" which means "a stone"

Opal miners restrict use of the term opal to precious opal, calling material that does not show a good play of colors 'potch'

Opals

The precious opal presents a peculiar play of colors of delicate tints, and is highly esteemed as a gem

There are four main types of precious Opal - Black, Crystal, Boulder and White/Milk.

Colors - One kind, with a varied play of color in a reddish ground, is called the harlequin opal. The fire opal has colors like the red and yellow of flame. The Common opal has a milky appearance. Menilite is a brown impure variety, occurring in concretions at Menilmontant, near Paris. Other varieties are cacholong, girasol, hyalite, and geyserite

The crystal structure of the Opal (hydrous silicon dioxide) is Amorphous.

The Colors of OpalsOpals come in a wide range of natural colors and shades. The more colors in an Opal the more valuable the gemstone will be. The dominant colors in an Opal have value in the order of red, orange yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Black Opal is more valuable than crystal Opal, which in turn is generally more valuable than white/milky Opal. Learn about the gemstones before you buy opal jewelry.

Birthstone Facts and Information about OpalsThe following list provides Birthstone facts and information about the Opal:

Symbolism, Significance and Properties of OpalsThe properties with which the Opal, the birthstone of the Zodiac sign of Libra, is associated are as follows:

Hope, innocence and purity

Happiness, faithfulness, loyalty and confidence

Healing Properties of the OpalThe healing properties of the Libra birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to:

Eyes and eye infections

To enhance the healing process

Opals JewelryOpals jewelry is extremely popular especially for those nearest and dearest. The tradition of giving gifts of jewelry containing these stones dates back thousands of years. The gemstone, or birthstone Opal is believed to conduct the energies of the planet Venus with which it is sympathetic and that wearing jewelry containing the gemstone will focus the energies of the planet and sign through the gem. Learn about the gem stone before you buy opal jewelry. All different types of jewelry containing Opals are available including:

Birthstones & Jewelry InsuranceYour home insurance policy may not fully cover you for birthstone jewelry insurance, engagement ring insurance or wedding ring insurance. Your home insurance policy probably covers jewelry theft, but not loss that occurs for other reasons. A typical home insurance policy will only usually pay a maximum of $1,000 for jewelry theft. Obtain a Jewelry Insurance quote from the Chubb group of jewelry insurance.